$ perl -wMstrict
print qx|printf "%b" "this is a q\'uot\'ed test"|, "\n";
print qx|printf "%b" "this is a q\'uot\'ed test|;
print qx|printf "%b" "this is a q\'uot'ed test|;
__END__
this is a q'uot'ed test
sh: Syntax error: Unterminated quoted string
sh: Syntax error: Unterminated quoted string